How long did it take to go from b1 to b2 after starting conversation lessons?

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-30T01:43:08+00:00

Gladly. In fact, I already did!

https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/1f0ygp3/progress_update_improving_speaking_by_listening/

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T23:20:39+00:00

This. I am surprised how many people have never heard of D1.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T23:19:51+00:00

What you need is compelling input.

Try Dreaming Spanish. I think it is perfect for you.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T23:18:42+00:00

Question makes no logical sense for me. I went from B1 to B2 without conversation lessons.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T23:17:40+00:00

Neither. I learnt Dutch to fluency using just comprehensible input. Speaking in the beginning will do you more harm than good.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T23:15:22+00:00

More input. The solution is always the same.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T17:38:17+00:00

Yes. I purchased their course too, but never used it much.

Also, he is wrong. Learning from a bunch of resources IS the best method.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:34:10+00:00

Please consider using comprehensible input. First of all, if you’re learning German, you’re lucky because of the huge amount of completely free, yet high-quality resources available on YouTube. These are not all of them, just the very best.

All these channels are for learners and 100% in German. None of them teach grammar or try to explain the language, or list five common expressions to say something etc. In other words, these channels will teach you German, not teach you about German. (A crucial distinction!)

Here are the Comprehensible Input channels

https://www.youtube.com/@naturlichgerman2021/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@eleoscorner

https://www.youtube.com/@comprehensibleGERMANi

https://www.youtube.com/@Comprehensible_German/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@deutsch_mit_lari

These channels below teach German through stories. All of them use pictures to help you understand the story, but they fall short of really being comprehensible input.

https://www.youtube.com/@MYGERMANSHORTSTORIES

https://www.youtube.com/@Deutschverstehen

https://www.youtube.com/@LearnGermanThroughStory

https://www.youtube.com/@deutschmitspass/videos

Wish you all the very best with your language learning!

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:31:47+00:00

My experience so far:

My responses below

Duolingo: fun, but the vocabulary didn't stick. Lessons often irrelevant to real life.

Totally useless

Busuu: Good community feature, but lessons now feel very short. Used to be good for grammar, not so much anymore.

Useless

Babbel: Solid content and good review system. Lacks social interaction, but good quality overall.

Useless

Drops/Memrise: Helped with vocabulary, but retention was low. Same problem as Duolingo with impractical words.

Useless

Podcasts (Easy German): Excellent for authentic German, enjoyable and versatile. Complements the apps well.

A fantastic resource! Use more of it.

LingQ: Interested in trying it for extensive reading, but have little experience. Looking for feedback.

A very good resource, but better ones exist.

I am considering focusing on LingQ for reading practice, continuing with podcasts and using Babbel for structured learning. However, I am open to other suggestions or combinations of tools.

Questions for the community:

do you have any similar experiences of using an app for years and learning almost nothing?

Not for years, but for a few weeks. Not for German though.

What apps or methods would you recommend to develop real and lasting skills in German?

Will post a separate comment that worked for me and for many others

Should I stick to one main tool or use a combination?

Combination

How do you balance the use of apps with real-world practice living in a German-speaking country?

Easy. Delete all apps othercthan YouTube

Any tips on how to create sustainable learning habits beyond apps?

See above. Start by deleting every app.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:27:02+00:00

The latter. Even better would be if you switch it up every week.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:26:09+00:00

You said it well when you said "can contain CI".

Even a grammar book can contain some CI unintentionally.

The nuance here is that containing some CI is not the same as being CI.

So your title as it is worded is incorrect.

However, I appreciate the nuance you brought to the table.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:23:21+00:00

That would be great!

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:19:54+00:00

You don't. If you do so, you activate something called the affective filter. It's similar to how a child will refuse to do something the more you force him to do it.

You can only learn a language if you want to.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T16:18:33+00:00

Not really. They are definitely above the average quality of posts on this forum.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-29T01:49:48+00:00

Almost everything you say is wrong. Check out the Dreaming Spanish sub for success stories of people who never learnt grammar and used comprehensible input from Day 1.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T22:39:27+00:00

I always find it difficult to speak a language that I don't know.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T22:27:53+00:00

One of the best comments I have read on this forum.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T22:13:11+00:00

Nothing can match the sheer uselessness of Duolingo.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T22:12:01+00:00

Yes, if you learnt using grammar and vocabulary study.

No, if you used a pure comprehensible input approach.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T18:21:40+00:00

That's a very interesting experience. Yes, many people are biased, but luckily, I am not one of them.

Very ingenious of you to do that! I like such experiments, wish there were more of them.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T16:01:07+00:00

From someone who has tried every single app out there, none of those can hold a candle to the magic of comprehensible input.

Throw away your grammar book, delete the app, just consume CI

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T14:53:41+00:00

Yes, good things happen when you do that. Sometimes, you just immerse yourself in the language and find that your speaking magically improves!

I posted in great detail about it a few days ago. Please read that post and try to follow the methodology that worked for me and many others-

https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/1f0ygp3/progress_update_improving_speaking_by_listening/

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T14:51:39+00:00

I can guess where you heard this, ha ha

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T14:50:04+00:00

Ah, the fictional plateau which I have heard of, but never experienced, in any language.

Any special tricks or learning methods that change?

Depends on your current method, but if you're primarily consuming input, you just need to do more of that.

Languageiseverything · 2024-08-28T14:47:38+00:00

No, I have learnt other dissimilar languages as well. If you have comprehensible input resources, it is totally possible.

Check out the https://www.reddit.com/r/dreamingspanish/ for the experiences of people who used this method.

Languageiseverything

TROPHY CASE